Ministry of Defence

Russia: NATO

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the balance between NATO and Russian (a) naval, (b) air, (c) ground and (d) nuclear forces; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: The Government keeps its assessments of Russian naval, air, ground and nuclear forces under appropriate review. Further details cannot be provided in the interests of national and international security.

Afghanistan: Armed Conflict

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2015 to Question 5927, if he will commission a lessons learned post-Afghanistan review to inform future military strategy.

Michael Fallon: No decisions have yet been taken by the Government on a wider post- Afghanistan review. We have been learning the tactical lessons of our operations in Afghanistan throughout the campaign.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to schedules 1 and 2 to the European Referendum Bill, for what reason the maximum custodial sentence for a person who contravenes the Offence Provisions is six months in Northern Ireland and 12 months in other parts of the UK.

Mr David Lidington: The offences in Schedules 1 and 2 to the EU Referendum Bill follow precedents set by existing law in relation to sentencing.For these offences the maximum penalties in each part of the UK are the same on conviction on indictment. Where there are differences in the maximum custodial sentence on summary conviction, this reflects existing differences in sentencing powers of the courts that try cases summarily in different parts of the UK.For summary convictions in England and Wales, the Bill provides that references to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months should be read as 6 months for offences committed before section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is commenced.

Immunity from Prosecution: European Arrest Warrants

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department is able to grant special mission immunity status to a person in the UK subject to an European arrest warrant.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what powers he has to re-assess special mission immunity status after entry; and on what grounds such a request made prior to entry can be refused.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many people from which countries were granted special mission immunity status in 2015 after entering the UK without that status.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what criteria are used to assess a request for special mission immunity status for a person who entered the UK without that status.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department can grant special mission immunity status to a person who entered the UK without that status.

Grant Shapps: The Government set out its position in respect of special mission immunity status in the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ Written Ministerial Statement of 4 March 2013 [Official Report, column 55WS].

Central African Republic: Peace Negotiations

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to build sustainable peace in the Central African Republic.

Mr David Lidington: The UK’s focus in the Central African Republic is on working with the international community to improve security throughout the country. We will support the Transitional Authorities to prepare for elections, and assist with justice, governance and state administration, so institutions can start delivering basic services to the people of the Central African Republic.The UK co-sponsored a UN Security Council Resolution authorising the deployment of a UN Peacekeeping Operation, MINUSCA, which launched in September 2014. The operation is focussing on restoring stability, preventing human rights abuses, and promoting reconciliation. The UK has also supported the EU Military Advisory Mission to the Central African Republic which launched in March 2015. The operation is focussing on providing the government of the Central African Republic with expert advice, with a view to reforming the military to make it into a professional army, democratically accountable and representative of the entire nation.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Irish counterpart on the implications of a potential UK vote to leave the EU.

Mr David Lidington: I have discussed the Government’s plans for a renegotiation of the UK’s membership of the EU and referendum with my Irish counterpart, most recently in a visit to Dublin on 26 May. The Government will not speculate on post referendum scenarios. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) is focused on success: he believes he can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU and campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis.

Central African Republic: EU Aid

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the EU Trust Fund for the Central African Republic supports reconciliation and peacebuilding activities.

Mr David Lidington: The UK is supportive of the EU Trust Fund for the Central African Republic and its support for peacebuilding and reconciliation activities. The UK's bilateral funding to the Central African Republic is currently focussed on meeting urgent humanitarian needs.

Central African Republic: Armed Conflict

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to fulfil its Responsibility to Protect in the Central African Republic.

Mr David Lidington: The security and humanitarian situation remains grave in the Central African Republic and continues to have a severe impact on the civilian population and their human rights. The UK government underlined our concerns about this in our statement to the UN’s Human Rights Council in July. The UK co-funded the African Union’s 2014 deployment of experts to the Central African Republic to support victims of sexual violence. The deployment facilitated the rehabilitation of three health facilities, provided protection and assistance to victims of sexual violence and established a national network of government and community stakeholders, in the prevention and response to sexual violence. The UK welcomes efforts by the government of the Central African Republic and the UN to set up a Special Criminal Court to address war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 2012. The UK welcomes the positive outcome of the Bangui Forum in particular the agreement signed between the armed groups, UN and transitional government to release all children from the ranks of the armed groups. It is important that these children are offered assistance and helped to reintegrate into society. The signing of an agreement on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration is an important step but it is critical for the agreement to be applied and for international forces to enforce the commitments made by the signatories of this agreement.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons the offence provisions in schedules 1 and 2 of the European Referendum Bill provide for the same custodial penalty whether an accused person is convicted on indictment or on summary complaint.

Mr David Lidington: The offences in Schedules 1 and 2 to the EU Referendum Bill follow precedents set by existing electoral and wider law in relation to sentencing.Where a custodial sentence can be imposed, until section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is commenced, the maximum custodial sentence on summary conviction in England and Wales is 6 months compared to 12 months for conviction on indictment. In Northern Ireland the maximum custodial sentence on summary conviction is 6 months compared to 12 months for conviction on indictment. In Scotland, the maximum custodial sentence is 12 months on summary conviction or for conviction on indictment.The maximum custodial sentences on summary conviction reflect existing differences in sentencing powers of the courts that try cases summarily in different parts of the UK.

Central African Republic: Elections

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support the Central African Republic in its preparations for national elections in 2015.

Mr David Lidington: Elections are crucial for the Central African Republic's future stability and push towards reconciliation. It is important that these elections are free, fair and inclusive. The UK welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court that all citizens of the Central African Republic, including internally displaced people and refugees in neighbouring countries, have the right to vote in upcoming elections. The UK is supportive of an EU Election Mission to the Central African Republic.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Higher Education: Admissions

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make representations to UCAS on releasing anonymised individual data on applications and admissions to universities for the purpose of research on access to higher education.

Joseph Johnson: We encourage organisations holding relevant data, including the Higher Education Statistics Agency, UCAS, HEFCE and the Student Loans Company, to make it publicly available so it can be analysed and re-presented in a variety of formats to help students make informed choices about higher education.I have asked the Chief Executive of UCAS, Mary Curnock Cook, to look into this and reply to the hon. Member.

Apprentices: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeship starts there were in each business sector in (a) Copeland constituency and (b) Cumbria in each of the last six years.

Nick Boles: Information on Apprenticeship starts by Parliamentary constituency and Local Education Authority since 2005/06, broken down by Sector Subject Area, is published online:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441033/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-and-sector-subject-area.xlsInformation is collected by Sector Subject Area, not by business sector.

Postal Services: Compensation

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with representatives of Royal Mail on the adequacy of the postal compensation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: We have had no such discussions. Royal Mail is required by regulation to ensure that it maintains fair and reasonable remedies and redress. Ofcom, the postal regulator, monitors the effectiveness of compensation arrangements and, if necessary, can direct Royal Mail to modify its Postal Schemes which cover charges and terms and conditions for its universal service products and services.

Students: Grants

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students (a) were in receipt of a full, (b) were in receipt of a partial and (c) did not receive a maintenance grant in each of the last 10 years.

Joseph Johnson: Statistics showing the number of English domiciled applicants awarded Maintenance Grants for study at UK providers are published annually by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education in England’.http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/full-catalogue-of-official-statistics/student-support-for-higher-education-in-england.aspxThe distribution of maintenance support grants awarded to English applicants at UK providers over the last ten years has been provided in the attached table. Complete data for the academic year 2014/15 will be published by the SLC in November 2015. 



Support grants awarded to English applicants table
(PDF Document, 259.99 KB)

Business: Regulation

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many regulations were (a) introduced and (b) removed in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) introducing and (b) removing regulations in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Anna Soubry: Over the last Parliament, the Statements of New Regulation set out the regulations introduced and removed, and the costs and savings this achieved for business. The Ninth Statement of New Regulation gives the overall account of measures introduced 2010- 2015 and their costs and savings. This can be found on the Gov.UK website.

HM Treasury

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a distributional impact analysis of each of the benefit and tax credit announcements made in the Summer Budget 2015.

Damian Hinds: The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of most of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on Monday 21 July, and the remaining impact assessment will follow in due course.   The Government published analysis of the impact of government policy across the income distribution alongside the Summer Budget, which included benefit and tax credit expenditure.

Money Advice Service

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.10 of the Government's response to the independent review of the Money Advice Service, published in March 2015, when his Department plans to publish the terms of reference for and objectives of the review of the case for providing consumers with a breathing space.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government will make an announcement on next steps in due course.

NHS: Fees and Charges

Owen Thompson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people will no longer be eligible for a NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate as a result of changes in the Summer Budget 2015.

Damian Hinds: Any decisions on eligibility to NHS Tax Credits Exemption Certificates are matters for Health Ministers, including devolved administrations.

Revenue and Customs

Charlotte Leslie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of moving HM Revenue and Customs services online on people using such services who are without access to the technology required for online access.

Damian Hinds: We recognise there will always be individuals who need extra support using digital channels and we acknowledge that the continued growth and development of our digital services cannot be at the expense of people who cannot use them, do not have the technology, or who struggle to use them. Our digital strategy incorporates principles for supporting people who need help and those who are digitally excluded. The strategy can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-digital-strategy-2014/hmrc-digital-strategy-2014

Pensions: Tax Allowances

Ian Blackford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value of tax relief on pension contributions applicable to higher tax rate taxpayers was in 2014-15; and what the total value of tax relief on all pension contributions for all taxpayers was in that year.

Ian Blackford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax relief was granted (a) to higher rate taxpayers and (b) in total in respect of (i) defined contribution and (ii) defined benefit pension schemes in 2014-15.

Damian Hinds: This information requested is published in HM Revenue and Custom (HMRC) National Statistics table PEN6, available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/registered-pension-schemes-cost-of-tax-relief

Students: Loans

Jonathan Edwards: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what Barnett consequential will accrue to Wales as a result of the planned saving of £2.5 billion of the decision to replace maintenance grants with maintenance loans for students in England.

Damian Hinds: As the changes to maintenance arrangements will come into effect for the academic year 2016-17, they will be factored into the budget for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which will be set at the forthcoming Spending Review. The Barnett Formula will be applied to this settlement in the usual way.   Should the Welsh Government choose to offer students from Wales maintenance loans on a similar basis, the Treasury will make available a proportionate level of cover.

Science: Research

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he intends to (a) maintain, (b) increase or (c) decrease scientific and medical research spending in real terms over the next (i) one year and (ii) five years.

Damian Hinds: This Government has made a long term commitment to science capital funding which has risen to £1.1 billion in 2015-16 and will increase in line with inflation out to 2020-21.   Future funding allocations for science resource funding, including medical research, will be determined at the forthcoming Spending Review.

Financial Services: Terrorism

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the vulnerability of the financial system to terrorist actions; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: This government considers the resilience of the financial sector to a range of security threats and natural hazards. While responsibility for the resilience of the financial sector is primarily for firms themselves, the government continues to support measures to strengthen the resilience of the sector, and in particular its critical systems, working closely with the Bank of England (BoE) the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), wider government and the sector.

Commodity Markets: Oil

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to reduce speculation in and improve the transparency and supervision of the oil futures market; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The EU Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID 2) will from 3 January 2017 bring in a new regime for the regulation of commodity derivatives, which will include limits on the size of positions a person can take and reporting obligations.

Gaming Machines: Tax Yields

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue has been raised from the fixed-odds betting terminals tax.

Damian Hinds: Total Machine Games Duty (MGD) receipts for the year ending 31 March 2015 are £565 million. This includes, from 1 March 2015, MGD payable at the higher rate (but this amount is not identified separately). The higher rate is forecast to raise an additional £75 million a year. (https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx)

Ministry of Justice

Data Protection

Marie Rimmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of businesses in the UK process personal data for which registration with the Information Commissioner is required; and what estimate he has made of how much revenue is generated by businesses in the UK in each year from processing of personal data.

Marie Rimmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what support and guidance (a) has been and (b) will be provided by his Department to (i) new and (ii) established businesses on their obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Dominic Raab: The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) requires every data controller who is processing personal information to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) unless they are exempt. At the end of 2014/15 there were 409,000 data controllers registered with the ICO which generated a total income of £17,519,000. The ICO is currently reviewing the coverage of the public register and plans to identify any sectors which are clearly under represented, with any such sectors being contacted by the ICO. The ICO’s website sets out the criteria for notification and provides guidance on the level of fee organisations should be paying. The ICO have also made it easier for organisations to notify and pay the fee by introducing online payments.  The ICO’s website contains guidance for data controllers, including businesses, about their obligations under the DPA.

Prisons

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) murders of staff and prisoners, (b) riots, (c) assaults on staff, (d) instances of prisoner self-harm, (e) instances of prisoner suicide, (f) instances of improper mobile telephone use and (g) absconders from open conditions have occurred in prisons in the last 12 months.

Andrew Selous: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is committed to running safe establishments. Violence of any kind in prison is not tolerated and all assaults are treated extremely seriously. Any prisoner who commits an act of violence can expect to have action taken against them. NOMS has launched a new Violence Reduction project, which has been created to gain better understanding of the causes of the current levels of violence in prisons and to make sure that there is strengthened handling of it, in terms of both prevention and response.There is no central record of persons having been convicted of Prison staff murders. On 29 June 2015 at Blackfriars Crown Court, Lorraine Barwell, a Serco Prisoner Custody Officer, was assaulted and sadly died of her injuries. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is currently undertaking an investigation into the incident. The NOMS Investigator is working with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that the ongoing Murder investigation is not compromised. NOMS Incident Reporting does not record riot as an incident type. Latest published figures on prisoner deaths (homicide and self-inflicted), self-harm and assaults in prison custody in England and Wales can be found in the safety in custody publication at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/safety-in-custody-quarterly-update-to-december-2014-and-annual This publication provides statistics on deaths to the end of March 2015 and assaults and self-harm to the end of December 2014. Latest published figures on absconds can be found in the prison and probation management information addendum at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-and-probation-trusts-performance-statistics-201314

Judges: Females

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many female judges have been appointed since (a) 1 January and (b) 7 May 2015.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many female judges have been appointed since (a) 1 January and (b) 7 May 2010.

Mr Shailesh Vara: From 1st January to 6th May 2015 (inclusive), 18 salaried and 44 fee paid female judges were appointed out of a total 42 salaried and 105 fee paid judges.From 7th May to 30th June 2015 (inclusive), 8 salaried and 32 fee paid female judges were appointed out of a total 19 salaried and 76 fee paid judges. From 1st January to 6th May 2010 (inclusive), 29 salaried and 258 fee paid female judges were appointed out of a total 76 salaried and 538 fee paid judges.From 7th May 2010 to 30th June 2015 (inclusive), 266 salaried and 1233 fee paid female judges were appointed out of a total 676 salaried and 2557 fee paid judges. All salaried judicial appointments are announced on the Judiciary Website. This can be found at: https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/announcement-type/appointments-and-retirements/

Human Trafficking: Confiscation Orders

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many confiscation orders of what value were made by HM Courts against those convicted of human trafficking offences in England and Wales in each of the last three years; and how much of that money has been awarded to the victims of trafficking.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The table below shows the total number of confiscation orders and their values made against defendants where the principal offence is categorised as People Trafficking. The figures provided are for the financial years (April to March) and are based on the original order amount imposed, and therefore some of these orders may have been subject to subsequent appeals and/or variations. People TraffickingNo. of orders madeOriginal order amountAwarded as compensation2012 – 201314£457,722.18 £68,669.51 2013 – 201422£593,415.43 £2,542.44 2014 – 201518£1,113,038.77 £351,838.07   Confiscation orders are one of the key mechanisms available to the Government to deprive criminals of the proceeds of their crimes. The value of the order imposed, which is often very high, is based on the criminal benefit attributed to the crime and may, therefore, exceed the value of realisable assets that are known to the Court at the time of imposition. Crucially, an outstanding order stops the criminal benefitting from the proceeds of crime and ensures that, if the assets are discovered in the future, they can be seized. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and other enforcement agencies take the issue of recovering criminal assets very seriously and are working to ensure that clamping down on defaulters is a continued priority nationwide. The amount defendants repaid from their criminal activity across all agencies has increased for the last six consecutive years and we are currently on course to have another highly effective year. £154.1million was collected in 2014/15 (which represented a 12% increase on the total recovered during 2013/14); as at the end of June 2015, £53 million had been recovered, which is an increase of 47% on the same period last year. After payment of compensation and external receiver’s fees, the balance is distributed across key Departments to support ongoing investigation, prosecution and enforcement activity. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 amends the scope of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to include slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. The Act also introduces Slavery and Trafficking Reparation Orders which can be used to award compensation to victims. HMCTS is seeking a commercial partner to help increase collections, reduce enforcement costs and importantly, ensure more criminals pay. The improvement that the Agencies continue to make, combined with our future plans, will make sure that more criminals pay and that taxpayers get better value for money.

Witnesses

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard witness summons pro forma sent to complainants and witnesses to require them to attend court.

Mike Penning: A copy of form N20 Witness Summons (used in civil proceedings in the High Court, County Court and Court of Appeal), form PF25 Witness Summons (used in the Family Court)form 5072 Witness Summons (used in the Crown Court) and Witness Summons (used in proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court) will be deposited in the Library of the House of Commons in due course.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of homes in (a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland constituency which do not have access to superfast broadband.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Current superfast broadband coverage is over 80% of UK premises and the Government remains committed to providing 95% coverage to homes and businesses by December 2017. The commercially-funded delivery of superfast broadband in Cumbria is expected to cover over 111,000 premises. Phase 1 of the Connecting Cumbria broadband project aims to provide superfast coverage to a further 116,000 homes and businesses in Cumbria. As of 31 March 2015, this project had provided superfast coverage to approximately 59,000 premises. Assuming completion of the commercial programme, this would leave approximately 85,000 premises within Cumbria which do not yet have access to superfast broadband. Comparable data is not available at constituency level. However, by the end of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Connecting Cumbria project, coverage in Copeland constituency is expected to reach 92% of premises.

Journalism

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the number of journalists employed (a) in total and (b) at national newspapers in each of the last five years.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department does not collect this information. However, the Office for National Statistics Labour Force Survey does collect data on the number of "journalists, newspaper and periodical editors" in employment. The figures for the last 5 years can be found in the table below.  20102011201220132014Journalists, newspaper and periodical editors63,00062,00065,00070,00060,000  Source: The Office for National Statistics Labour Force Survey, Employment by Occupation

Members: Correspondence

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy plans to respond to the letter to him of 29 June 2015 from the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The letter was not received and a duplicate has been requested.

Internet: Rural Areas

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will extend the Internet of Things competition for UK cities launched on 13 July 2015 to rural communities.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The competition will establish a demonstrator in a "city region" which can include less densely-populated areas and solutions will not necessarily all be based in the central urban area. The competition will also establish internet of things applications and solutions which are at scale and replicable in other areas.

Arts: Rural Areas

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage more young people in rural communities to pursue careers in the arts.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Arts Council England works closely with stakeholders to engage young people in rural areas. Working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the Arts Council undertook a data and evidence review to identify strengths and challenges of the arts sector in rural England. Key findings from the report published in March 2015 were: · People living in rural areas are more likely to be engaged with the arts than those living in urban areas (Taking Part Survey*)· 19% of Grants for the Arts** activity; and 35% of National Portfolio Organisation*** touring in 2012/13 reached rural communities· Applicants from rural areas made 13% of individual Grants for the Arts applications and 14% of organisational applications in the 2.5 years to August 2014. *The Taking Part survey collects data on many aspects of leisure, culture and sport in England, as well as an in-depth range of socio-demographic information on respondents. In respect of the Arts, data is collected about the reasons for participating and not participating, barriers to participation, and the frequency of participation are also collected.** Grants for the arts is the Arts Council's Lottery-funded grant programme for individuals, arts organisations and other people who use the arts in their work. Grants are available for activities carried out over a set period and which engage people in England in arts activities and help artists and arts organisations in England carry out their work. ***National Portfolio Organisations receive regular funding directly from the Arts Council.

UK City of Culture

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will introduce a UK Community of Culture Award to allow non-cities to experience the same benefits as cities awarded UK City of Culture awards.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The UK City of Culture competition is open to areas that have a clear urban focus, which could include a city or large town, two or more neighbouring cities or towns, or a closely linked set of urban areas. While the Government has no plans to introduce a UK Community of Culture award, we recognise the importance of culture in rural communities: how it can impact on health, social cohesion and personal development, as well generating tourism, jobs, and wealth.

Department for Work and Pensions

Children: Maintenance

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much child maintenance was not collected in each of the last five years.

Priti Patel: The table below shows the total amount of liability accrued each year and, by comparison, how much was received or adjusted and the difference at the end of the year. Liability accrued is compared with collections excluding and including amounts in respect of arrears and technical adjustments. A new methodology was introduced in the December 2013 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics which is only available for data from January 2012. Figures prior to this do not use a comparable methodology and are therefore not included.  Year ending:Liability Accrued in the Year (£m)(2,3)Regular Maintenance Collected in the year i.e. excluding amounts towards arrears and technical adjustments (£m) (2,4)Difference in regular maintenance (£m) at the end of the year (6) Total Credits in the year i.e. including amounts towards arrears and technical adjustments (£m)(2,5)Difference in credits (£m) at the end of the year(7) AB=A-BC=A-CMar-13£915.7£655.0£260.7£828.3£87.4Mar-14£942.4£688.0£254.4£849.0£93.4Mar-15£840.7£629.3£211.4£767.4£73.3  Notes: 1)a. Figures are against the 1993 and 2003 statutory maintenance services only, including cases managed off system.b. Maintenance Direct cases are not included within this table. A Maintenance Direct case would not accrue liability on the CSA computer Systems, due to money being paid directly between parents.2) Total Liabilities is the sum of the quarterly amounts of money charged as regular maintenance (excluding any technical adjustments).3) Regular maintenance collected is the amount of money paid via the collection service excluding technical adjustments. This figure is derived by summing the quarterly figures together. It is possible that some of the maintenance not collected in one of the quarters might be collected in the next quarter as arrears; however this will not be included in the regular maintenance figures.4) Total credits are the sum of the quarterly amounts of money paid, including technical adjustments and contributions towards arrears, via the collection service.5) The difference in regular maintenance at the end of the year is the amount of liability not collected on time within each quarter.6) The difference in credits at the end of the year is the amount of liability not collected. This is the total amount of liability accrued minus regular maintenance collected, technical adjustments and payments towards arrears.7) Quarterly figures are published in the Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/child-support-agency-quarterly-summary-of-statistics-march-2015

Children: Maintenance

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure self-employed people claiming child maintenance declare their income in full.

Priti Patel: For the 2012 scheme, income data is sought directly from HMRC. Under the 1993 and 2003 schemes self-employed earners are asked to provide HMRC’s Tax Calculation Notice as evidence of their income. If this cannot be provided, income data can be requested directly from HMRC. Should any client believe issues of tax fraud exist, we will signpost them appropriately to HMRC or the Financial Investigation Unit, run by the Child Maintenance Group.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bees: Conservation

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of factors contributing to decline of the honeybee population; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the National Pollinator Strategy.

George Eustice: UK honey bees and other pollinators play an essential role in ensuring our food security and sustaining the health of the natural environment. To help inform Defra’s National Pollinator Strategy (NPS), published in November 2014, the department commissioned a report on the ‘Status and Value of Pollinators and Pollination Services’. The report reviewed evidence on threats to pollinators, including the honey bee, and highlighted the many pressures pollinators face. These include aspects of land-use intensification (landscape alteration, cultivation in monocultures and agrochemical use) as well as urbanisation, invasive alien species, the spread of diseases and parasites, and climate change.   The NPS forms a framework for collective action to help manage and raise awareness of the pressures facing pollinators. The strategy seeks to address key gaps in our understanding about the status of pollinators, identifies specific policy and evidence actions for the Government and others, and identifies actions that everyone can take to help expand food, shelter and nest sites; increasing forage will have definite benefits for honey bees. The pressures honey bees face may have been offset by a recorded increase in beekeeping activity since 2008.   The National Pollinator Strategy is a 10 year plan which was launched less than a year ago. It is therefore too soon to be assessing its effectiveness. The Implementation Plan which will set out how the National Pollinator Strategy is to be delivered is to be published soon.

Plants: Allergies

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase awareness of plants that can cause severe allergic reactions.

George Eustice: Defra already provides focussed information on certain plants which can cause severe allergic reactions. For example, information on the dangers of Giant Hogweed can be found on the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat website at: http://www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?pageid=152.   In addition, for ragwort, a native plant that can in specific circumstances be toxic to grazing livestock, Defra has worked with the British Horse Society in increasing awareness that draws on our published Code of Practice on the management of ragwort.

Covent Garden Market Authority

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether any members of staff involved in the sale of land by the New Covent Garden Market Authority have left that Authority and subsequently been employed by the land purchaser.

Rory Stewart: There have been no sales of land by the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA) in the last five years. Covent House, CGMA’s former office building, will be sold to London Underground Limited (LUL), a subsidiary of Transport for London, on 31st July 2015, under a Land and Works Agreement dated 29th October 2014. This was in order to effect a Compulsory Purchase of the land, necessary for the Northern Line extension of London Underground. The current Project Director of Covent Garden Market Authority is due to join Transport for London later this year. The CGMA Board has been informed of the appointment and was given an opportunity to raise issues or concerns about his move from CGMA to Transport for London. The Board has not raised concerns.

New Covent Garden Market

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what options other than demolition and rebuilding her Department considered for the redevelopment of the car park in New Covent Garden Market; and what the estimated cost was of each such option.

Rory Stewart: It is not intended to demolish and rebuild the existing multi-storey car park at New Covent Garden Market. The existing car park has been assessed by structural engineers from both the Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA) and by CGMA’s Private Development Partner who consider the structure to be in a satisfactory condition to be retained and refurbished rather than demolished and rebuilt.   The option to demolish and rebuild was considered as was extension of the existing car park. Neither of these options was considered cost effective.   The contracts to undertake the work will be let by the Private Development Partner, VSM (NCGM) Limited. Some of these contracts have yet to be finalised and as such cost information generated in assessing the options is commercially confidential and cannot be disclosed at this time.

Home Office

Human Trafficking: Children

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has had discussions with the (a) Premier League, (b) Football Association and (c) England and Wales Cricket Board on child trafficking into the UK through the use of visas obtained for sportspeople.

James Brokenshire: We have regular discussions with sporting bodies to ensure that immigration routes are being used as intended and not being used for abuse by either sponsors or migrants. Where we have evidence that immigration routes are being used to facilitate trafficking we take a robust response.

Human Trafficking: Children

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will conduct an assessment of whether visas intended for sportspeople have been used to traffick children from non-EU countries into the UK.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office monitors all routes of immigration into the UK to ensure these routes are being used as intended and to identify signs of abuse. Where we have evidence that immigration routes are being used to facilitate trafficking we take a robust response.

Slavery

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to lay secondary legislation on supply chains under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 which sets the turnover threshold for businesses before Parliament.

Karen Bradley: The Government is carefully considering responses to the recent public consultation on what size of business the transparency in supply chains provision should apply to and what our accompanying guidance should cover.We will lay regulations to set the turnover threshold, as well as the response to the consultation, as soon as possible.

Offences against Children

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources her Department is making available in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016 to (i) the Metropolitan Police to investigate historic child abuse allegations and (ii) the Metropolitan Police and other agencies to offer counselling and support to the victims of such abuse; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Penning: Resourcing is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. We have prioritised child sexual abuse as a national threat to empower forces to maximise specialist skills and expertise to prevent offending and resolve cases. This means that police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners must have in place the capabilities they need to protect children from sexual abuse.In 2015/16 the Home Office provided an additional £10 million to the National Crime Agency for the creation of more specialist teams to tackle online child sexual exploitation. We have also made available £1.7 million to fund Operation Hydrant, which coordinates the handling of multiple historical child sexual abuse investigations specifically concerning institutions or persons of public prominence, and £1.5 million to support regional coordinators and analysts to oversee the implementation of the National Policing Plan for tackling Child Sexual Exploitation.The Home Office and Ministry of Justice will provide an additional £7 million for victims services supporting survivors of sexual violence in 2014/15 and 2015/16. £2.15 million of that £7million has been provided as an uplift in funding to 84 existing Rape Support Centres.

Asylum: Children

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children under 16 in asylum-seeking families receive financial support from the Government.

James Brokenshire: On 31 March 2015, there were 5,477 children under the age of 16 in asylum-seeking families (i.e. not listed as Appeal Rights Exhausted) in receipt of Section 95 Asylum Support (Accommodation and Subsistence or Subsistence only).

Scotland Office

Scotland Act 2012

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2015 to Question 6014, for what reason it is the Government's policy not to place such documents in the Library.

David Mundell: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



The government has an agreed and published Transparency Policy on major projects that sets out the project information it will publish. Outside this, departments consider public requests for individual project review reports on a case-by-case basis according to the Freedom of Information Act.

Scotland Act 2012

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2015 to Question 6014, if he will publish a summary of the findings of the Office of Government Commerce's Gateway 0 strategic assessment of the Scotland Act 2012 implementation programme.

David Mundell: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



The Government does not routinely place ‘programme’ documents for live projects in the library of the House. This Government is committed to keeping Parliament updated on the implementation of the financial provisions of the Scotland Act 2012 through the Annual Report, which is publically available.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on a further referendum on Scottish independence of the Scottish Parliament election in 2016 delivering a majority for political parties committed to the holding of such a referendum.

David Mundell: Throughout the independence referendum leading members of the Yes campaign repeatedly asserted that it would be a ‘once in a generation’ or a ‘once in a lifetime’ event. For example, in September 2013, Nicola Sturgeon described the independence referendum on BBC television as a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity for Scotland’ and in November 2013, the Scottish Government’s white paper, Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland, which was produced at taxpayers’ expense and made freely available to anyone in Scotland, called the referendum ‘a once in a generation opportunity to follow a different path’. In the context of these and other assurances, and following extensive debate, in September 2014 people in Scotland voted decisively, by a majority of over ten per cent, to reject independence and to keep our family of nations together. We await with interest the publication of the parties’ election manifestos.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what contingency plans his Department has prepared for the possibility of a further referendum on Scottish independence being the policy of the Scottish Government after the Scottish Parliament election in 2016.

David Mundell: Given the clear and repeated commitments of leading Yes campaigners, not least the First Minister herself, during the independence referendum campaign that the vote was a ‘once in a generation’ or ‘once in a lifetime’ event, and given that a clear majority of Scots voted No in that referendum, my Department has not prepared contingency plans for the possibility of a further referendum being the policy of the Scottish Government after the Scottish Parliament election in 2016.

Department of Health

Smoking: Diseases

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating smoking-related diseases in each of the last three years.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the average amount spent by the NHS on treatment for a (a) smoker and (b) non-smoker over their lifetime.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the average number of visits a (a) smoker and (b) non-smoker will make to a GP during their lifetime.

Jane Ellison: The Department does not maintain an annual record of the cost to the National Health Service of treating people with smoking-related diseases.   However, in 2015, Action on Smoking and Health, in its publication Smoking Still Kills, estimated that the total cost of smoking to society in England alone is approximately £13.8 billion a year. This figure includes a £2 billion direct cost to the NHS of treating smoking related diseases.   The Department has not published any further information on the costs of smoking to the NHS and does not have information on health costs over a lifetime of smokers compared to non-smokers.